Treaties, you see, are like girls and roses: they last while they last.

A real leader is somebody who can help us overcome the limitations of our own individual laziness and selfishness and weakness and fear and get us to do better, harder things than we can get ourselves to do on our own.

No human life, not even the life of a hermit, is possible without a world which directly or indirectly testifies to the presence of other human beings.

The more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.

There is nothing more tyrannical than a strong popular feeling among a democratic people.

Sic semper tyrannis! The South is avenged.

You have all the characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner.

I am invariably of the politics of the people at whose table I sit, or beneath whose roof I sleep.

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Politics is the art of the possible.

Every country has the government it deserves.

Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.

Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.